India, Belarus condemn terrorism in all forms

New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) India and Belarus have condemned terrorism in all its forms while calling for an early adoption of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN.

A joint statement issued following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko here on Tuesday said that both sides “condemn any form of terrorism and extremism and demonstrate their commitment to strengthening global security”.

“They affirm their support for an early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that acts, methods and practices of terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances, regardless of their motivation, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever they are committed,” it stated.

According to the statement, both sides stressed that “terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and terrorist safe havens rooted out in every part of the world”.

“India and Belarus are committed to strengthen cooperation against threats from globally designated terrorists irrespective of their origin,” it stated.

It said that India and Belarus have a shared commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

“In this context, Belarus welcomes India’s application for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and believes that India’s admission into the group would strengthen global non-proliferation objectives.”

The two countries also pledged to work together to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors.

They would also “work closely in relevant international fora against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, including trafficking in persons, illegal smuggling of migrants, as well as emerging crimes like, among others, trafficking in human organs and trafficking in cultural property”.